From Quest, Inc.
Quest, Inc.’s 29th annual Wine Quest was the most successful one yet, having raised more than $450,000 for services that benefit children and adults with developmental disabilities.
Related: Camp Thunderbird offers a summer of possibilities to individuals with disabilities.
On May 16 and 17, hundreds of people gathered at Caribe Royale in Orlando for the nonprofit’s largest fundraiser of the year, which was held in partnership with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. Brian Shields – a meteorologist whose career in broadcast news spanned more than 20 years – hosted the event with guests participating in silent and live auctions, wine samplings and a multi-course dinner. Goliath Ventures served as the Bordeaux Sponsor for Wine Quest.
The record-breaking amount of money collected at the event goes toward Quest programs including: children’s therapy, employment services, life-skills training, residential options and a classic summer camp experience. Florida ranks second to last in the country for the amount of funding provided to people with special needs. Of the roughly 400,000 residents in the state who need that assistance, only around 7.5% of them receive it.
“Every dollar raised during Wine Quest presents a life-changing opportunity for families in Central Florida,” said John R. Gill, President and CEO at Quest. “The support from our community means more people with autism and other developmental disabilities can access the resources that help them thrive in all areas of life, whether it’s at home, the workplace or the classroom.”
Wine Quest also supports the new Quest Kids Orlando, a state-of-the-art education and therapy campus that opens in the heart of Orlando in late Fall of 2025. The school – located at 500 E. Colonial Drive – is ready to serve people ages 5-22 by using the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy in two major focus areas:
- Early Academics emphasis on foundational learning and classroom readiness • Life/Employment Readiness develops social and vocational skills to transition into adulthood
For more information about Quest services, visit Questinc.org.
About Quest, Inc.
For over 60 years, Quest, Inc. has transformed the lives of thousands of adults and children with developmental disabilities through a range of services proven to increase capabilities and quality of life. From the humble beginnings of a single location serving eight individuals, to currently over 20 locations, serving over 500 individuals each day in Orlando and Tampa, we continue to help those with developmental disabilities experience a full life.
